Repeated, long-distance migrations by a philopatric predator targeting highly contrasting ecosystems

Long-distance movements of animals are an important driver of population spatial dynamics and determine the extent of overlap with area-focused human activities, such as fishing. Despite global concerns of declining shark populations, a major limitation in assessments of population trends or spatial management options is the lack of information on their long-term migratory behaviour. For a large marine predator, the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier, we show from individuals satellite-tracked for multiple years (up to 1101 days) that adult males undertake annually repeated, round-trip migrations of over 7,500 km in the northwest Atlantic. Notably, these migrations occurred between the highly disparate ecosystems of Caribbean coral reef regions in winter and high latitude oceanic areas in summer, with strong, repeated philopatry to specific overwintering insular habitat. Partial migration also occurred, with smaller, immature individuals displaying reduced migration propensity. Foraging may be a putative motivation for these oceanic migrations, with summer behaviour showing higher path tortuosity at the oceanic range extremes. The predictable migratory patterns and use of highly divergent ecosystems shown by male tiger sharks appear broadly similar to migrations seen in birds, reptiles and mammals, and highlight opportunities for dynamic spatial management and conservation measures of highly mobile sharks.

Repeated, long-distance migrations by a philopatric predator targeting highly contrasting ecosystems

Long-distance movements of animals are an important driver of population spatial dynamics and determine the extent of overlap with area-focused human activities, such as fishing. Despite global concerns of declining shark populations, a major limitation in assessments of population trends or spatial management options is the lack of information on their long-term migratory behaviour. For a large marine predator, the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier, we show from individuals satellite-tracked for multiple years (up to 1101 days) that adult males undertake annually repeated, round-trip migrations of over 7,500 km in the northwest Atlantic. Notably, these migrations occurred between the highly disparate ecosystems of Caribbean coral reef regions in winter and high latitude oceanic areas in summer, with strong, repeated philopatry to specific overwintering insular habitat. Partial migration also occurred, with smaller, immature individuals displaying reduced migration propensity. Foraging may be a putative motivation for these oceanic migrations, with summer behaviour showing higher path tortuosity at the oceanic range extremes. The predictable migratory patterns and use of highly divergent ecosystems shown by male tiger sharks appear broadly similar to migrations seen in birds, reptiles and mammals, and highlight opportunities for dynamic spatial management and conservation measures of highly mobile sharks.

A new method for resolving uncertainty of energy requirements in large water breathers: the ‘mega-flume’ seagoing swim-tunnel respirometer

Body size is a key determinant of metabolic rate, but logistical constraints have led to a paucity of energetics measurements from large water-breathing animals. As a result, estimating energy requirements of large fish generally relies on extrapolation of metabolic rate from individuals of lower body mass using allometric relationships that are notoriously variable. Swim-tunnel respirometry is the ‘gold standard’ for measuring active metabolic rates in water-breathing animals, yet previous data are entirely derived from body masses <10 kg – at least one order of magnitude lower than the body masses of many top-order marine predators. Here, we describe the design and testing of a new method for measuring metabolic rates of large water-breathing animals: a c. 26 000 L seagoing ‘mega-flume’ swim-tunnel respirometer. We measured the swimming metabolic rate of a 2·1-m, 36-kg zebra shark Stegostoma fasciatum within this new mega-flume and compared the results to data we collected from other S. fasciatum (3·8–47·7 kg body mass) swimming in static respirometers and previously published measurements of active metabolic rate measurements from other shark species. The mega-flume performed well during initial tests, with intra- and interspecific comparisons suggesting accurate metabolic rate measurements can be obtained with this new tool. Inclusion of our data showed that the scaling exponent of active metabolic rate with mass for sharks ranging from 0·13 to 47·7 kg was 0·79; a similar value to previous estimates for resting metabolic rates in smaller fishes. We describe the operation and usefulness of this new method in the context of our current uncertainties surrounding energy requirements of large water-breathing animals. We also highlight the sensitivity of mass-extrapolated energetic estimates in large aquatic animals and discuss the consequences for predicting ecosystem impacts such as trophic cascades.

A new method for resolving uncertainty of energy requirements in large water breathers: the ‘mega-flume’ seagoing swim-tunnel respirometer

Body size is a key determinant of metabolic rate, but logistical constraints have led to a paucity of energetics measurements from large water-breathing animals. As a result, estimating energy requirements of large fish generally relies on extrapolation of metabolic rate from individuals of lower body mass using allometric relationships that are notoriously variable. Swim-tunnel respirometry is the ‘gold standard’ for measuring active metabolic rates in water-breathing animals, yet previous data are entirely derived from body masses <10 kg – at least one order of magnitude lower than the body masses of many top-order marine predators. Here, we describe the design and testing of a new method for measuring metabolic rates of large water-breathing animals: a c. 26 000 L seagoing ‘mega-flume’ swim-tunnel respirometer. We measured the swimming metabolic rate of a 2·1-m, 36-kg zebra shark Stegostoma fasciatum within this new mega-flume and compared the results to data we collected from other S. fasciatum (3·8–47·7 kg body mass) swimming in static respirometers and previously published measurements of active metabolic rate measurements from other shark species. The mega-flume performed well during initial tests, with intra- and interspecific comparisons suggesting accurate metabolic rate measurements can be obtained with this new tool. Inclusion of our data showed that the scaling exponent of active metabolic rate with mass for sharks ranging from 0·13 to 47·7 kg was 0·79; a similar value to previous estimates for resting metabolic rates in smaller fishes. We describe the operation and usefulness of this new method in the context of our current uncertainties surrounding energy requirements of large water-breathing animals. We also highlight the sensitivity of mass-extrapolated energetic estimates in large aquatic animals and discuss the consequences for predicting ecosystem impacts such as trophic cascades.

Desorption isotherms and thermodynamics properties of anchovy in natura and enzymatic modified paste

The thermodynamic properties of anchovy fillets and enzymatic modified pastes in two hydrolysis degrees (3% HD and 14% HD), at 50, 60 and 70 C were evaluated. The GAB model was used to calculate the values of the monolayer moisture content and the thermodynamic properties of the samples. The enzymatic modification led to the increases of the superficial area and differential enthalpies, and decrease of the differential entropies in relation the samples in natura. The enthalpy–entropy compensation showed that the process was controlled by the enthalpy, it was only spontaneous for the samples in natura. Pore size decreased with enzymatic modification, and all samples were in the limit of region between micropores and mesopores (<2 nm) for moisture content of 15%, and mesopores (from 2 to 50 nm) to moisture content above 15%.

Playing popular science

This was a peer-reviewed event that took place at the DiGRA-FDG conference in August 2016. While it has a paper component (the attached proposal), the output was a demonstration of games rather than a conference paper. As such, this entry should be considered an Event or Exhibition.

Stock assessment of whaler and hammerhead sharks (Carcharhinidae and Sphyrnidae) in Queensland

This stock assessment provides detailed results for the most common sharks encountered by Queensland commercial fishers. These sharks come from the whaler (Carcharhinidae) and hammerhead (Sphyrnidae) families and comprise sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon taylori and R. oligolinx), the milk shark (R. acutus), the creek whaler (Carcharhinus fitzroyensis), the hardnose shark (C. macloti), the spot-tail shark (C. sorrah), the Australian blacktip shark (C. tilstoni), the common blacktip shark (C. limbatus), the spinner shark (C. brevipinna), bull and pigeye sharks (C. leucas and C. amboinensis), the winghead shark (Eusphyra blochii), the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) and the great hammerhead (S. mokarran). Reef sharks were excluded because fishery observer data indicated that they were largely spatially segregated from sharks caught in the inshore net fisheries. The three common species of reef sharks in Queensland, which are all whaler sharks, are the grey reef shark Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, the blacktip reef shark C. melanopterus and the whitetip reef shark Triaenodon obesus.

Determinação de curva glicolítica em carcaças de aves PSE (Pale, soft, exsudative) e normal em linha de abate industrial

Some quality defects can cause changes in attributes of the meat, among these we can detach the PSE meat (Pale, Soft and Exudative). The PSE meat is pale, flaccid and exudative and result from sudden pH decrease while the carcass is still under high temperature. The identification of PSE meat has been done by measuring pH and L* (Lightness). However, studies suggest that a more precise evaluation of the kinetics of pH and temperature decrease has to be conducted to better understand the etiology of PSE meat in poultry. The aim of this study was to obtain the glycolytic curve for normal and PSE meat of chicken, through the pH, L* and CRA (water holding capacity) analysis. This experiment was conducted with carcasses obtained from a commercial slaughterhouse (n = 35) of Cobb lineage, 50 days old, from the same batch of creation and with the same pre-slaughter fasting time (10h). Samples of breast fillets were obtained from carcasses randomly collected immediately at the output of pre-cooling chiller, and the analysis of pH, temperature and L * were conducted in the same in times 1h35, 2h35, 3h35, 5h35, 8h35, 11h35, 14h35, 17h35, 20h35, 23h35 and 25h35 post mortem. The CRA analyzes were performed at the time of 25h35 post mortem. The pH measurements indicated that only from the 04 time (8h35 post mortem) was possible to verify an indicative of stabilization, being that PSE meat pH was 5,69±0,07, and normal meat was 5,93±0,09. The final pH (25h35 post mortem) was 5,98±0,06 and L* 57,30± 2,39 for normal meat, while for PSE meat the result was 5,72±0,06 and L* 59,44±1,51. To CRA, the average of the samples (67,19±3.13 and 64,45± 2.66) showed a difference between the normal chicken fillets and PSE respectively. The data found in this study are consistent with those reported by own research group in another slaughterhouse and contradicts similar works, but made at room temperature, indicating that for chickens under commercial conditions the resolution of rigor mortis occurs after 8h35 post mortem.

Selection for muscle fat content and triploidy affect flesh quality in pan-size rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

A lean muscle line (L) and a fat muscle line (F) of rainbow trout were established (Quillet et al., 2005) by a two-way selection for muscle lipid content performed on pan-size rainbow trout using a non-destructive measurement of muscle lipid content (Distell Fish Fat Meter®). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the consequences of this selective breeding on flesh quality of pan size (290 g) diploid and triploid trout after three generations of selection. Instrumental evaluations of fillet color and pH measurement were performed at slaughter. Flesh color, pH, dry matter content and mechanical resistance were measured at 48 h and 96 h postmortem on raw and cooked flesh, respectively. A sensorial profile analysis was performed on cooked fillets. Fillets from the selected fatty muscle line (F) had a higher dry matter content and were more colorful for both raw and cooked fillets. Mechanical evaluation indicated a tendency of raw flesh from F fish to be less firm, but this was not confirmed after cooking, neither instrumentally or by sensory analysis. The sensory analysis revealed higher fat loss, higher intensity of flavor of cooked potato, higher exudation, higher moisture content and a more fatty film left on the tongue for flesh from F fish. Triploid fish had mechanically softer raw and cooked fillets, but the difference was not perceived by the sensorial panel. The sensorial evaluation also revealed a lower global intensity of odor, more exudation and a higher moisture content in the fillets from triploid fish. These differences in quality parameters among groups of fish were associated with larger white muscle fibers in F fish and in triploid fish. The data provide additional information about the relationship between muscle fat content, muscle cellularity and flesh quality.

Comparação da medida de cor de pescado entre sistema de visão computacional e colorímetro convencional no frescor do pescado

A cor da superfície dos alimentos é o primeiro parâmetro de qualidade avaliado pelos consumidores, e é critico para a aceitação do produto, então a medição adequada da cor é uma importante ferramenta. Nesta pesquisa avaliou-se a variação da cor em corvina (Micropogonias furnieri) armazenada em gelo durante 16 dias; os parâmetros de luminosidade (L*), valor cromático a*, valor cromático b*, variação total da cor (ΔE) e croma (C*) foram obtidos por sistema de visão computacional, e por colorímetro Konica Minolta CR-400. O frescor da corvina baseada nas mudanças da cor das brânquias foi avaliado utilizando um sistema de visão computacional. Também se modelou a oxidação da mioglobina em files de burriquete (Pogonias cromis), utilizando os parâmetros de vermelho (valor a* e R). Para registrar as mudanças da cor durante 57,6 h utilizou-se um sistema de visão computacional, a análise química realizou-se determinando a concentração de metamioglobina (%). Na avaliação da cor de corvina armazenada em gelo, o sistema de visão computacional mostrou diferenças significativas para L*, a*, ΔE e C*, enquanto que o colorímetro mostrou diferenças significativas para L* e ΔE, o único parâmetro que não apresentou diferenças entre instrumentos foi ΔE durante a avaliação da corvina armazenada em gelo. O coeficiente de correlação entre os parâmetros da cor (L*, a* e b*) das brânquias da corvina armazenada em gelo pelo tempo de armazenamento foi de 0,9747. O sistema de visão computacional registrou as mudanças da cor em filés de burriquete e se modelaram as mudanças utilizando um modelo exponencial. O sistema de visão computacional mostrou ser mais sensível às mudanças da cor durante a avaliação da cor na corvina armazenada em gelo. É possível prognosticar o tempo de armazenamento da corvina em gelo em função da mudança da cor das brânquias. Assim, foi possível modelar a variação da mioglobina em filés de burriquete utilizando sistemas de visão computacional para registrar ditas mudanças. Os sistemas de visão computacional têm grande capacidade para registrar as mudanças da cor e é possível utiliza-los para avaliar os alimentos em função da cor.

Comparative phylogeography of the western Indian Ocean reef fauna

Assessing patterns of connectivity at the community and population levels is relevant to marine resource management and conservation. The present study reviews this issue with a focus on the western Indian Ocean (WIO) biogeographic province. This part of the Indian Ocean holds more species than expected from current models of global reef fish species richness. In this study, checklists of reef fish species were examined to determine levels of endemism in each of 10 biogeographic provinces of the Indian Ocean. Results showed that the number of endemic species was higher in the WIO than in any other region of the Indian Ocean. Endemic species from the WIO on the average had a larger body size than elsewhere in the tropical Indian Ocean. This suggests an effect of peripheral speciation, as previously documented in the Hawaiian reef fish fauna, relative to other sites in the tropical western Pacific. To explore evolutionary dynamics of species across biogeographic provinces and infer mechanisms of speciation, we present and compare the results of phylogeographic surveys based on compilations of published and unpublished mitochondrial DNA sequences for 19 Indo-Pacific reef-associated fishes (rainbow grouper Cephalopholis argus, scrawled butterflyfish Chaetodon meyeri, bluespot mullet Crenimugil sp. A, humbug damselfish Dascyllus abudafur/Dascyllus aruanus, areolate grouper Epinephelus areolatus, blacktip grouper Epinephelus fasciatus, honeycomb grouper Epinephelus merra, bluespotted cornetfish Fistularia commersonii, cleaner wrasse Labroides sp. 1, longface emperor Lethrinus sp. A, bluestripe snapper Lutjanus kasmira, unicornfishes Naso brevirosris, Naso unicornis and Naso vlamingii, blue-spotted maskray Neotrygon kuhlii, largescale mullet Planiliza macrolepis, common parrotfish Scarus psicattus, crescent grunter Terapon jarbua, whitetip reef shark Triaenodon obesus) and three coastal Indo-West Pacific invertebrates (blue seastar Linckia laevigata, spiny lobster Panulirus homarus, small giant clam Tridacna maxima). Heterogeneous and often unbalanced sampling design, paucity of data in a number of cases, and among-species discrepancy in phylogeographic structure precluded any generalization regarding phylogeographic patterns. Nevertheless, the WIO might have been a source of haplotypes in some cases and it also harboured an endemic clade in at least one case. The present survey also highlighted likely cryptic species. This may eventually affect the accuracy of the current checklists of species, which form the basis of some of the recent advances in Indo-West Pacific marine ecology and biogeography.

Desenvolvimento de método para determinação de espécies de mercúrio empregando MSPD e GC-MS

Neste trabalho é proposto pela primeira vez, o desenvolvimento e validação de um método analítico baseado no emprego da dispersão da matriz em fase sólida (MSPD) modificada, para extração das espécies CH3Hg+ e Hg2+ em amostras de peixe e determinação por cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas (GC-MS). O método de extração utilizando a MSPD combina o rompimento da estrutura física da amostra, através da maceração e do uso de SiO2 como suporte sólido, com o método da extração ácida, utilizando uma solução de HCl 4,2 mol L-1 e NaCl 0,5 mol L-1. Para otimização da MSPD, foram avaliados parâmetros como massa de amostra, massa de suporte sólido, concentração de HCl, concentração de NaCl, tipo de suporte sólido e o tempo de agitação, com auxílio da metodologia de superfície de resposta. Além disso, a etapa de derivatização e a separação cromatográfica também foram otimizadas na determinação de CH3Hg+ e Hg2+ por GC-MS. O método mostrouse adequado para extração e determinação de espécies de mercúrio através da aplicação em materiais de referência certificados de fígado de peixe (DOLT-3) e músculo de peixe (DORM-2), apresentando boas concordâncias com os valores certificados e desvio padrão relativo inferior a 9,5%. Os limites de detecção foram de 0,06 e 0,12 µg g-1 para CH3Hg+ e Hg2+, respectivamente. Além disso, foi observado um significativo efeito de matriz e, por isso, a calibração foi feita com curvas preparadas com o extrato da MSPD. O método mostrou boa concordância na comparação entre a soma da concentração das espécies e a concentração de mercúrio total determinada por espectrometria de massas com plasma indutivamente acoplado com geração de vapor frio (CVG-ICP-MS), após digestão assistida por micro-ondas (MAD) em peixes do tipo atum (Thunnus thynnus), cação anjo (Squatina squatina) e cação viola (Rhinobatos blochii.).

Capture d'un Requin-Baleine, Rhineodon typus A. Smith, en Cohinchine: résumé de connaissances sur ce poisson

A description of a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) captured on June 1934 along the coast of Cap Ti Oan is given. The scientific name Rhincodon is not correct due to a typographic error. The name with greek origin, should be: Rhineodon typus.

A mitochondrial species identification assay for Australian blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus tilstoni, C. limbatus and C. amblyrhynchoides) using real-time PCR and high-resolution melt analysis

Tropical Australian shark fisheries target two morphologically indistinguishable blacktip sharks, the Australian blacktip (Carcharhinus tilstoni) and the common blacktip (C. limbatus). Their relative contributions to northern and eastern Australian coastal fisheries are unclear because of species identification difficulties. The two species differ in their number of precaudal vertebrae, which is difficult and time consuming to obtain in the field. But, the two species can be distinguished genetically with diagnostic mutations in their mitochondrial DNA ND4 gene. A third closely related sister species, the graceful shark C. amblyrhynchoides, can also be distinguished by species-specific mutations in this gene. DNA sequencing is an effective diagnostic tool, but is relatively expensive and time consuming. In contrast, real-time high-resolution melt (HRM) PCR assays are rapid and relatively inexpensive. These assays amplify regions of DNA with species-specific genetic mutations that result in PCR products with unique melt profiles. A real-time HRM PCR species-diagnostic assay (RT-HRM-PCR) has been developed based on the mtDNA ND4 gene for rapid typing of C. tilstoni, C. limbatus and C. amblyrhynchoides. The assay was developed using ND4 sequences from 66 C. tilstoni, 33. C. limbatus and five C. amblyrhynchoides collected from Indonesia and Australian states and territories; Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. The assay was shown to be 100% accurate on 160 unknown blacktip shark tissue samples by full mtDNA ND4 sequencing.

A review on systematic and taxonomic of the Persian Gulf fish species, based on geographical distribution pattern and habitat diversity, using by GIS

During the period from 2011 - 2015 with the aim of this study was to systematically review and in particular the revised classification of the Persian Gulf (and the Strait of Hormuz) and to obtain new information about the final confirmed list of fish species of Iranian waters of the Persian Gulf (and Hormuz Strait), samples of museums, surveys and sampling, and comparative study of all available sources and documentation was done. Classification systematic of sharks and batoids and bony fishes. Based on the results, the final list of approved fish of the Persian Gulf (including the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman border region) are 907 species in 157 families, of which 93 species of fish with 28 cartilaginous families (including 18 families with 60 species and 10 families with 34 species of shark and batoids); and 129 families with 814 species of bony fishes are. The presence of 11 new family with only one representative species in the area include Veliferidae, Zeidae, Sebastidae, Stomiidae, Dalatiidae, Zanclidae, Pempheridae, Lophiidae Kuhliidae, Etmoptridae and Chlorophthalmidae also recently introduced and approved. The two families based Creediidae Clinidae and their larvae samples for newly identified area. 62 families with mono-species and 25 families with more than 10 species are present including Gobiidae (53), Carangide (48), Labride (41), Blenniidae (34), Apogonidae (32) and Lutjanidae (31) of bony fishes, Carcharhinidae (26) of sharks and Dasyatidae (12) in terms of number of species of batoids most families to have their data partitioning. Also, 13 species as well as endemic species introduced the Persian Gulf and have been approved in terms of geographical expansion of the Persian Gulf are unique to the area.Two species of the family Poeciliidae and Cyprinodontidae have species of fresh water to the brackish coastal habitats have found a way;in addition to 11 types of families Carcharhinidae, Clupeidae, Chanidae, Gobidae, Mugilidae, Sparidae also as a species, with a focus on freshwater river basins in the south of the country have been found. In this study, it was found that out of 907 species have been reported from the study area, 294 species (32.4 %) to benthic habitats (Benthic habitats) and 613 species (67.6 %) in pelagic habitats (Pelagic habitats) belong. Coral reefs and rocky habitats in the range of benthic fish (129 species - 14.3 %) and reef associated fishes in the range of pelagic fishes (432 species – 47.8 %), the highest number and percentage of habitat diversity (Species habitats) have been allocated. As well as fish habitats with sea grass and algae beds in benthic habitat (17 species- 1.9 %) and pelagic - Oceanic (Open sea) in the whole pelagic fish (30 species – 3.3 %), the lowest number and percentage of habitat diversity into account. From the perspective of animal geography (Zoogeography) and habitat overlaps and similarities (Habitat overlapping) fish fauna of the Persian Gulf compared with other similar seas (tropical and subtropical, and warm temperate) in the Indian Ocean area - calm on the surface, based on the presence of certain species that the fish fauna of the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea and the Bay of Bengal (East Arabian Sea) compared to other regions in the Indian Ocean (Pacific) is closer (about 50%), and the Mediterranean (East area) and The Hawaiian Islands have the lowest overlap and similarity of habitat and species (about 10%).